Influence of selenium on growth, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzyme activity in melon (Cucumis melo L.) seedlings under salt stress

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of exogenous selenium (Se) supply (0, 2, 4, 8, 16 μM) on the growth, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzyme activity of 100 mM NaCl-stressed melon (<em>Cucumis melo</em> L.) seedlings. Salt stress significantly reduced the growth attributes including stem length, stem diameter, dry weight and increased antioxidative enzyme activity [superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT)]. Moreover, the plant exhibited a significant increase in electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content under NaCl stress. Se supplementation not only improved the growth parameters but also successfully ameliorated the adverse effect caused by salt stress in melon seedlings. However, the mitigation of NaCl-stressed seedlings was different depending on the Se concentration. At lower concentrations (2–8 μM), Se improved growth and acted as antioxidant by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and increasing in SOD and POD enzymes activity under salt stress. At higher concentrations (16 μM), Se exerted diminished beneficial effects on growth. Whereas CAT activity was enhanced. The result indicated that Se supplementation had a positive physiological effect on the growth and development of salt-stressed melon seedlings.